Q&A 2017-006
Rule 19.1; When Rule 19 Applies
Rule 19 does not apply when rule 18 applies between boats and the obstruction is another boat overlapped with each of them.
Question 1
In a match race event, Yellow and Blue in one match and Green in another match are approaching the windward mark overlapped. The mark is to be rounded to starboard.
Green is sailing a steady close-hauled course on starboard tack, and enters the zone overlapped inside the other two.
Yellow and Blue are overlapped on port tack with Blue as the leeward boat. Yellow and Blue are on a collision course with Green.
Blue does not hail for room to tack. At the last moment, Blue bears away and passes close behind Green. Yellow luffs and tacks to avoid Green and Y-flags.
What should the call be?
Answer 1
Display the green and white flag. When Green reaches the zone, she is an inside overlapped boat and therefore entitled to mark-room (rule C2.2) from Blue and Yellow under rule 18.2(a)(1) (rule C2.9) until she has rounded or passed the mark.
When Blue enters the zone overlapped inside Yellow, rule 18.2(a)(1) (rule C2.9) applies and requires Yellow to thereafter give Blue mark-room (rule C2.2).
Green as a right-of-way boat is an obstruction to Yellow and Blue.
All three boats are overlapped because rule 18 applies between them (last sentence of definition Overlap and rule 18.1 (rule C2.9).
The conditions in rule 19.1(b) are fulfilled and therefore rule 19 does not apply. Yellow is not entitled to room to pass between Green and Blue.
Question 2
The situation is the same as in Question 1, but instead of luffing and tacking, Yellow bears away with Blue to pass behind Green. Blue has to avoid Yellow and there is contact between Yellow and Green.
Blue displays a Y-flag.
What should the call be?
Answer 2
Penalize Yellow. Rule 19 does not apply, therefore Blue is not required to give Yellow room to pass between Green and herself. Yellow fails to keep clear of both Green and Blue, and breaks rules 10 and 11.
Yellow is not entitled to room or mark-room, nor is she compelled to break a rule by another boat breaking a rule, therefore she will not be exonerated under rule 64.1(a) (rule C8.1(b)) or rule 21.
This call is valid until: 2018-11-21
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